National Transportation Safety Board Marine Accident Report: Sinking of the211 Recreational Sailing Vessel Morning Dew at the Entrance to the Harbor of 211 Charleston, South Carolina, December 29, 1997

摘要

During the early morning hours of December 29, 1997, the 34-foot recreational211u001esailing vessel Morning Dew struck the rock jetty on the north side of the 211u001eshipping channel into the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. The boat was 211u001elater found about 15 yards south of the jetty, submerged in about 12 feet of 211u001ewater. The owner/operator of the vessel and his three passengers, all members of 211u001ethe same family, died as a result of the accident. The national Transportation 211u001eSafety Board determines that the probable cause of the sinking of the 211u001erecreational sailing vessel Morning Dew was the operator's failure to adequately 211u001eassess, prepare for, and respond to the known risks of the journey into the open 211u001eocean that culminated in the vessel's allision with the jetty at the entrance to 211u001eCharleston Harbor. Contributing to the loss of life in this accident was the 211u001esubstandard performance of U.S. Coast Guard Group Charleston in initiating a 211u001esearch and rescue response to the accident. The major safety issues identified in 211u001ethis investigation are the adequacy of the reasoning and decision-making of the 211u001eoperator; the fatigue and hypothermia suffered by the operator; the adequacy of 211u001ethe reasoning and decision-making of Coast Guard Group Charleston's personnel, 211u001eequipment, and procedures for responding to an emergency; and the role of the 211u001eCoast Guard in providing factual information for safety investigations.